If you haven’t checked in on the Smith family lately, you’re in for a massive shock. For the longest time, the answer to who voices Rick and Morty was just one guy. Justin Roiland. He wasn't just the voice; he was the co-creator, the frantic energy behind the burps, and the high-pitched stuttering that defined an entire era of Adult Swim.
Then everything changed.
In early 2023, Adult Swim severed ties with Roiland following serious allegations of domestic violence (which were later dismissed due to insufficient evidence) and subsequent reports of workplace misconduct. The internet went into a tailspin. Fans were convinced the show was dead. How do you replace the guy who literally is the title characters?
Well, they did it. And honestly? They did it by hiring two relatively unknown actors who spent months studying the exact cadence of a drunken super-scientist and his neurotic grandson.
The New Voices: Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden
When Season 7 premiered, the credits looked very different. Adult Swim played it close to the vest for months, refusing to name the replacements until the very second the first episode aired. It was a gamble.
Ian Cardoni is the man behind Rick Sanchez now.
Cardoni wasn't a household name. He was a voice actor with a few credits, but he stepped into perhaps the hardest job in Hollywood. Taking over Rick isn't just about the gravelly voice; it's about the "Rick-isms." The cynicism. The way Rick trails off when he's bored. Cardoni nailed it so well that most casual viewers didn't even notice a change until someone pointed it out on Reddit.
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Then there’s Harry Belden, who took over as Morty Smith.
Morty is arguably harder to voice than Rick. He has that specific, cracking puberty-adjacent pitch that Roiland naturally possessed. Belden had to find a way to sound like a terrified fourteen-year-old without making it a caricature. According to showrunner Scott Marder, the casting process was a "grueling" search that involved thousands of auditions. They weren't looking for an impressionist; they were looking for actors who could live in the characters.
Why the transition was so controversial
Most people don't realize how much of the show's DNA was tied to Roiland's improv. In the early seasons, the "Interdimensional Cable" episodes were essentially just Roiland messing around in a recording booth, laughing at his own jokes.
When you ask who voices Rick and Morty today, you're asking about a more structured version of the show.
The new actors have to follow a script more closely because they aren't the primary writers. This has led to a slight shift in the show's "vibe." Some fans argue that Rick feels a bit more "stable" now, while others find the lack of constant burping and stuttering a massive relief. It’s a polarizing topic. You’ve got the purists who think the soul is gone, and then you’ve got the folks who think the writing has actually improved because the show is no longer reliant on one person's chaotic energy.
A breakdown of the supporting cast (who stayed the same)
While the leads changed, the "backbone" of the show remained untouched. This is a huge reason why the transition worked as well as it did.
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- Chris Parnell continues to play Jerry Smith. Honestly, Parnell is a national treasure. His portrayal of the pathetic, yet weirdly resilient, patriarch is the funniest thing on the screen half the time.
- Spencer Grammer is still Summer. She’s evolved from a background sister to a legitimate action hero in recent seasons.
- Sarah Chalke pulls double duty as Beth and Space Beth. Her ability to play two versions of the same person—one hardened by space travel and one drowning in suburban misery—is a masterclass in nuance.
The "Sound-Alike" Strategy
Why didn't they just change the voices entirely? Like when The Simpsons replaces a side character and doesn't really care if it sounds identical?
Because Rick and Morty is a brand.
The "voice" is the product. Adult Swim knew that if they went with a "celebrity" voice—say, getting someone like Bill Hader or John Mulaney—it would break the immersion. They needed "sound-alikes." This is a common practice in animation (think about how many people have voiced Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny), but it's rare for it to happen to the main leads of a massive prime-time hit while the show is still in its prime.
Ian Cardoni mentioned in interviews that he had to practice the "Rick burp" specifically. It's a physical tax on the throat. Roiland used to actually drink carbonated water in the booth to force them out. Cardoni had to learn to mimic that "wet" sound synthetically. It's technical, gross, and surprisingly difficult.
What experts say about the "New" Era
Television critics have been surprisingly kind to the post-Roiland seasons. Many pointed out that by Season 6, the original voice performance was becoming a bit "one-note."
By bringing in Belden and Cardoni, the production team—led by co-creator Dan Harmon—was forced to focus more on the writing. Harmon, the mind behind Community, has always been a stickler for story structure (his "Story Circle" is legendary in writing rooms). Without the crutch of Roiland's improv, the show has leaned harder into its high-concept sci-fi roots.
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The ratings for Season 7 stayed relatively strong, proving that the audience cared more about the multiverse and the nihilistic humor than the specific vocal cords producing the dialogue. It was a "Ship of Theseus" moment for television. If you replace the voices, the writers, and the producers, is it still the same show? Apparently, yes.
The impact of the change on the industry
The situation with who voices Rick and Morty set a precedent. It showed that "irreplaceable" talent might not be so irreplaceable after all. In the past, a scandal involving a lead actor usually meant the end of the series. But we’re in the era of IP (Intellectual Property).
The characters of Rick and Morty are worth hundreds of millions of dollars in merchandising, streaming rights, and brand deals. Adult Swim and Warner Bros. Discovery weren't going to let a legal scandal tank their biggest asset.
This has made other networks take notice. It’s a bit cold, sure, but it’s the business. If you can find a talented kid from a random audition who sounds 95% like your star for a fraction of the headache, the choice becomes clear for the executives.
Actionable ways to track the changes yourself
If you're curious about the subtle differences, you don't need a degree in audio engineering to hear them. You just need to know what to listen for.
- Listen to the "Stutter-Count": Early seasons are packed with "Morty, you urgh you gotta... we gotta go Morty." In newer seasons, the stuttering is used as a punctuation mark rather than a filler. It’s more intentional.
- Watch the "Pilot" vs. Season 7, Episode 1: The contrast is wild. The pilot is raw, almost screaming. Season 7 is polished.
- The "Emotional" Range: Pay attention to the quiet moments. Cardoni’s Rick tends to sound a bit more "tired" and "old," which actually fits the character's arc as he hunts down Rick Prime.
- Check the Credits: Seriously, look at how many people it takes to make this show now. The "Additional Voices" section is a who's who of veteran voice talent like Kari Wahlgren and Tom Kenny.
The reality is that Rick and Morty has entered its "legacy" phase. Like South Park or The Simpsons, it’s now a cultural institution that will likely outlive its original creators' involvement. Cardoni and Belden aren't just replacements; they are the stewards of the next decade of the show. Whether you love the new voices or miss the old ones, the portal gun isn't being put away anytime soon.
Check out the latest episodes on Max or Adult Swim to hear the difference for yourself. Pay close attention to Morty's "anxiety peaks"—that's where Harry Belden's talent really shines through.